The powerful influence of technology on our lives is not to be taken lightly — and it’s no surprise that educators have strong opinions on its place in our schools.

Evidence that educational technologies displace curricular activities that better develop students’ ability to relate to each other, think critically and concentrate were key justifications for low-tech education expressed in the previous article. While some take an extreme stance against technology in schools, many seem to believe it has a place in the education of our children.

The reality is students aren’t sitting in front of computers all day or idly playing with iPads, said a teacher with an M.A. in educational technology in response to a 2011 New York Times article highlighting the advantages of low-tech education.

Comments from hundreds of readers exposed varying points of view on the issues surrounding education and technology. Overall, most shared that it’s not about zero computers; it is about intelligently blending traditional education with technology.

Producing rather than consuming

While being open to activities that engage students’ minds, savvy educators are on the lookout for tech time-wasters like edutainment, which can promote mental passivity. At school, like at home, it’s important to distinguish between children consuming content and spending time creating on screens.

"Just as I wouldn’t dream of limiting how much time a kid can spend with her paintbrushes, or playing her piano, or writing, I think it’s absurd to limit her time spent creating computer art, editing video, or computer programming," said Ali Partovi, adviser to Facebook, Dropbox and Zappos, in a New York Times article on how high-tech executives limit technology for their children..

For young people who use technology in their daily lives, programming is an excellent way to help them gain a real understanding of how tech works, along with the power to create their own programs.

Fortunately, coding is rapidly shedding its stereotype as a highly specialized, inaccessible skill, and is increasingly being taught in classrooms and libraries. Among the numerous benefits attributed to learning to program are communicating thoughts in a structured and logical way, problem-solving and abstract thinking.

Adapting technology to students, and not the other way around

"The classroom is filled with a variety of learners and you must plan different activities to meet the needs of all the learners," explained another teacher in the NYT article.

Learners with disabilities can greatly benefit from both improved assistive technology and repurposed mainstream technology. According to an EdTech article, educators see students using adaptive technologies thriving academically as they gain greater levels of independence and confidence.

As they are better able to understand and keep up with their classmates, individuals with special needs can be more easily integrated into general education classrooms.

"The devices available to students with disabilities are no longer these big clunky things on a desk in a separate space away from the classroom," explains Tracey Gray, the director of three programs that work to improve the achievement of students with disabilities.

"Students now have access to assistive technologies that are smaller, more mobile, more integrated and less expensive. They’re mainstream, too, so that makes them cool. All the students want to use them."

Access to a better life through technology

For children living in poverty, having access to a computer and other quality technology tools at school, along with vital instruction and support on how to use them constructively, can make a difference in their education and futures.

"It seems that less-affluent communities are much more worried about whether their schools are sufficiently tech-enabled since they don’t want their students to ‘miss anything’ that wealthier districts provide and because they view education as the sole means by which their students may have a shot at joining the middle class or above," notes one NYT reader.

Technology can help bridge the gap for people with other disadvantages, such as those living in remote areas where there’s no access to like-minded communities or people with the skills to teach to certain needs.

Algebra, pre-calculus and geometry are being taught at a distance to visually impaired students from the Washington State School for the Blind and other schools through a combination of technologies by a skilled teacher who lives 170 miles away.

"Math is an extremely difficult subject to teach to a blind or visually impaired student because it is, of course, so visual," explains Digital Research and Curriculum Development Coordinator Sherry Hahn in the EdTech article. "It takes a unique, experienced teacher to help these students really understand and get the concepts and skills they need to be able to do it independently."

Promoting autonomy and connection with others

The development of autonomy, interpersonal connection and self-expression that are key to any child’s mental health and academic achievements can be facilitated through the intelligent use of new technology as well as low-tech methods.

For example, through video conferencing, fifth-graders have conversations with children in distant classrooms to share their experiences with the projects they are working on. The students get to know each other on a personal level by sharing and commenting on each other’s blogs. One could argue that this activity facilitates a deeper level of connection than some traditional classroom dynamics would.

The latest technology dovetails with self-direction at Steve & Kate’s Camp, where each child is free to elect and move at will between activities that range from programming and filmmaking to fashion design and bread-making.

There’s no judging whether the activity is acceptable due to the technology used, it’s just exploration with different tools. For example, there are sewing machines to make clothes and iPads for programming.

As Khan Academy founder Sal Khan shares in a Fast Company article, "Instead of having more technology as a goal, we should have more human interaction, personalization, access, and content mastery as the goals, and then think about what tools can get us there."